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South Waziristan (Urdu:
جنوبی
وزیرستان)
is southern part of Waziristan a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan,
bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11 585 km² (4,473 mi²). It
comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi river
to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's
Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The North-West Frontier Province lies
immediately to the east. The region was an independent tribal territory
from 1893, remaining outside of British-ruled empire and Afghanistan.
Tribal raiding into British-ruled territory was a constant problem for the
British, requiring frequent punitive expeditions between 1860 and 1945.
The region became part of Pakistan in 1947.
Waziristan is divided into two "agencies",
North Waziristan and South Waziristan, with estimated populations (as of
1998) of 361,246 and 429,841 respectively. The two parts have quite
distinct characteristics, though both tribes are subgroups of the Waziris
and speak a common Waziri language. They have a formidable reputation as
warriors and are known for their frequent blood feuds. Traditionally,
feuding local Waziri religious leaders have enlisted outsiders in the
Pakistani government, and U.S. forces hunting al-Qaeda fugitives, in
attempts at score-settling. The tribes are divided into sub-tribes
governed by male village elders who meet in a tribal jirga. Socially and
religiously Waziristan is an extremely conservative area. Women are
carefully guarded, and every household must be headed by a male figure.
Tribal cohesiveness is so strong through so-called Collective
Responsibility Acts in the Frontier Crimes Regulation.
In South Waziristan there are two tribes 1.Masuod
2.Wazir
The Masuood tribe is reknowned for their courage and
many of the Masuod tribe are in the Pakistani army. They are more educated
compared to other Wazir tribes. The Masuood tribe inhabits the northern
regions of South Waziristan near Razmak(part of North Waziristan).There
are no flat-plains type geography in the Masuod tribal regions thus the
Masuod tribe moves nomadically through these mountainous regions and have
no source of business or trading.
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